Users familiar with Microsoft Sharepoint would note the similarities with the new Lists app, as it is in essence an upgraded version of the same tool. While Sharepoint lists were mostly about data management and could be accessed through Excel spreadsheets, Microsoft Lists are focused more on collaboration and can be viewed in multiple user-friendly ways.

What Is Microsoft Lists?

Microsoft Lists is described pretty well by its name already, but the number of similar products in Microsoft’s arsenal still makes things a bit confusing. Microsoft To-Do already lets you add tasks to a list, while something like Microsoft Planner works as a proper agile team collaboration tool. And then there is Sharepoint, which lets you create shareable lists as well.

Microsoft Lists distinguishes itself from these applications by its modern interface, cross-platform support, and incredible customization. It seeks not to supplant these tools but to supplement them, and to this end provides native integration with Planner and Sharepoint.

Lists are meant for creating multipurpose lists of, well, anything, from tasks to calendar events and even just data entries. This is paired with the ability to share these lists with Microsoft Teams (again, natively integrated) to discuss and collaborate on any list item.

Essentially, Microsoft Lists works as a powerful alternative to project management tools like Trello for teams that use the Office 365 suite, plugging a major gap in the capabilities of the Microsoft ecosystem.

Using Microsoft Lists

As Microsoft Lists is intended to work as a general-purpose collaborative list-making tool, it’s designed to be cross-platform. Along with the desktop app, you can download the Lists mobile app on Android as well as iOS phones, apart from the web version that can be accessed through any browser.

It is a part of the Office 365 suite, but you can also use it as a preview for now with any Microsoft account even without an Office subscription.

1. To try out the Microsoft Lists preview, head to lists.live.com, which acts as the web app for the tool. You may have to log in with your Microsoft account to gain access.

2. The interface is clean and clutter-free, with one button standing out at the top: New list. Click on it to create our first list.

3. This is where we get our first glimpse of the flexibility of Microsoft Lists. You can create a Blank list, use ready-made templates, or import a .csv file as a list, similar to Microsoft Sharepoint. And of course, you can also select a template to create a specific type of list.

4. Selecting a template also gives you a preview of what the template will look like with data filled in, after which you can click on the Use template button to go ahead with it.

5. Now just enter a name for the list, along with an optional description to make it easier to understand the purpose of the list. A color and icon will be chosen by default (based on the type of template) but you can change these too if you want. Select Create when you are satisfied.

6. The new list will open with all the fields (columns) already in place, ready to accept data. You can add more fields with the Add column button on the right, and new rows with the Add new item option on the left.

7. The categories are already configured with their respective data types, so for fields like date, you will get a calendar to pick from.

8. Simply enter all the fields to create a new item, repeating the process for as many entries as you want to add. As you might note, the Created by field keeps track of who added the item, making it easier to organize in case of multiple people using the same list.

And that’s all you need to get started. Those proficient with Excel (or Sharepoint) will find many similar features like sorting the data in a column or using Filters to view a selection of the list.

You can even export any list as a CSV file or a Microsoft Power BI file with the Export button on the top.

Sharing a List

Since the whole premise of Microsoft Lists is about collaborating with others, let’s take a look at how you can share lists that you have created.

1. Open an existing Microsoft List.

2. Click on the Share button from the top bar.

3. A small window will appear, letting you add names and a message for the people you are sharing the list with. All of it is optional since the only thing you need to do is to Copy link and share it with your team members.

4. By default the link permissions are set to allow anyone with the link to edit lists (after signing in), but you can modify this as well. Click on the Sharing settings button on the top of this small window (the gear icon) to view all the available options.

5. Now you can change the sharing access, from turning off the sign-in requirement to restricting it to people added to your organization. You can also set a password for an extra layer of security, or change what kind of permissions the link provides, limiting it to viewing only if you need to. Select Apply when you are done to bring the changes into effect.

Don’t worry about any mistakes made during this part; you can always use the Manage access button on the top right to modify user permissions for any given list.

Creating Views in Microsoft Lists

The default list is not the only way of viewing a Microsoft list. You can choose from four different views: List, Calendar, Gallery, and Board.

This flexibility in visualizing the information is another advantage Lists has over Sharepoint. There is no perfect view – depending on the content of the list in question, some views are better suited than others.

1. To create a new view, open a list and slick on the Add a view button on the right (with the + icon).

2. Here you can select the type of the list and enter the additional information required. Gallery and the default List view only require a name, while the Board needs you to specify a column to organize the list by. The Calendar view asks for a layout (Month or Week) along with the starting and ending dates.

3. Click on the Create button after entering the information to have the new view created for you.

4. You can edit new items in this view itself, or switch back to the grid view by using the dedicated button on the top left.

5. If you have multiple views, bringing down the three-dot menu on the right will let you choose from them.

Automate Tasks by Creating Rules

An essential feature of a collaborative list creation app is to be able to automate certain tasks. Fortunately, Microsoft Lists has you covered.

We say tasks, though for now, the only thing you can automate are notifications. You can set a list up to notify you when certain changes are made, letting you keep track of how the list is being used by your team.

1. To do this, click on the Rules button on the top bar, and select Create a rule.

2. A new window will appear, prompting you to select the type of condition you want to trigger a notification for. Select the icon that matches your needs.

3. Enter any other information required (such as the name of the column to track and any additional conditions) and the name or email address of the person to be notified.

4. Select Create when you are done to bring the new rule into effect.

5. You can head to Rules > Manage rules at any time to view the rules running on a list and disable them with a click.

Is Microsoft Lists Worth It?

For anyone already acquainted with the Office 365 ecosystem, the Microsoft Lists app is an excellent way to keep everything organized, whether you are working on it with a small team or a full corporate division.

You can create tasks, list out calendar events, and discuss every item with your teammates. The lists are extremely customizable, with several templates to create the perfect list for your use case, be it Employee onboarding or an Expense tracker.

And that’s before we get into the native integration with other Office 365 apps like Teams or Planner, making it the perfect organizational tool for someone familiar with Microsoft’s applications.

The post How to Use Microsoft Lists (And Why It’s Awesome) first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Some reasons you get an error code 0x8007016A on OneDrive are that the app’s Files On-Demand feature is enabled, your PC’s current power plan is restricting the app from fully working, your app’s core files are faulty, and more.

Turn Off OneDrive’s Files On-Demand Feature

When you get a 0x8007016A OneDrive error, the first basic fix you can apply is to disable the app’s Files On-Demand feature. Users on various forums confirm that this method has helped them resolve their OneDrive problem.

1. Open your PC’s Start menu, find OneDrive, and launch the app.
2. Select the OneDrive icon in your system tray.
3. Choose the gear icon in the app’s top-right corner and select Settings.
4. Select Sync and backup in the left sidebar.
5. Choose Free up disk space in the Files On-Demand section on the right.

6. Select Continue in the prompt.

Enable OneDrive’s Sync Option

Normally, OneDrive continually syncs your local and online files to ensure everything is up to date. However, when you receive a 0x8007016A error, your app’s sync option might be disabled. This causes the app not to sync your files, leading to the above error.

In this case, resume OneDrive sync, and your issue will be resolved.

1. Select OneDrive’s icon in your system tray.
2. Choose the gear icon in the app’s top-right corner and select Resume syncing.

3. OneDrive will begin syncing your local and cloud files.

Change Your PC’s Power Plan

Your PC’s active power plan decides how your various apps function. You may have enabled a conservative power plan, which limits your applications’ working. This may be why OneDrive doesn’t work normally and causes the above issue.

In this case, change your current power plan to the high-performance one, and your issue will be resolved.

1. Open Start, find Control Panel, and launch the item.
2. Select Hardware and Sound > Power Options in Control Panel.
3. Choose the High Performance plan on the list.

If you don’t see the High Performance plan on your screen, manually create and enable the plan as follows:

1. Select Create a power plan in the left sidebar.
2. Choose High Performance in the list, enter a name for your plan, and select Next.

3. Select Create on the following page to finish creating your plan.
4. Windows will automatically activate your newly-created power plan.

Update Your Windows Version to Fix OneDrive Errors

If your OneDrive 0x8007016A issue persists, your Windows system may have a bug. This bug may be interfering with OneDrive’s working, causing the app to produce the above error message.

In this case, try to fix your system bugs by updating your Windows version. Doing so brings various bug fixes that patch the bugs in your existing system.

On Windows 11

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Select Windows Update in the left sidebar.
3. Choose Check for updates on the right pane.

4. Download and install the available updates.
5. Restart your PC.

On Windows 10

1. Launch Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Select Update & Security in Settings.
3. Choose Windows Update in the left sidebar.
4. Select Check for updates on the right pane.

5. Download and install the latest updates.
6. Reboot your machine.

Reset the OneDrive App on Your PC

One reason you get a 0x8007016A OneDrive error is that your app preferences are faulty. Incorrectly specified options can cause your app to display various errors. In this case, you can reset your app to the default settings to possibly fix your issue.

You don’t lose your files when you reset OneDrive; only your app customizations are lost.

1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R.
2. Enter the following in the Run box and press Enter:
   
   %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset

3. If you get an error message running the above command, use the following commands to reset your OneDrive app:
   
   C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
   
4. When you’ve reset OneDrive, launch the app on your PC.

Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive on Your PC

If all your efforts have gone in vain and your OneDrive 0x8007016A issue still isn’t fixed, your last solution is to remove and reinstall the OneDrive app on your PC. Doing so removes all the app files from your PC, some of which may be causing your issue.

Again, you don’t lose your files when you reinstall OneDrive. The app will resync your files when you reinstall the app and sign back into your account.

1. Select the OneDrive icon in your PC’s system tray.
2. Choose the gear icon in the app’s top-right corner and select Pause syncing > Quit OneDrive.

3. On Windows 11, head into Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Select the three dots next to Microsoft OneDrive, choose Uninstall, and select Uninstall in the prompt.

4. On Windows 10, navigate to Settings > Apps. Select Microsoft OneDrive, choose Uninstall, and select Uninstall in the prompt.

5. Head to the OneDrive website and download and install the app on your PC.

Resolving OneDrive’s Error 0x8007016A Isn’t As Difficult As You May Think

OneDrive’s various errors can prevent you from downloading or uploading files to your cloud storage account. If your issues persist and you can’t get the app to work, use the methods outlined above. These methods fix the very items that can possibly cause your OneDrive problems, allowing you to repair your app and resume your file transfer tasks.

The post Fixed: Cloud File Provider Is Not Running on OneDrive – 0x8007016A Error first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

The method you’ll choose to convert your Word document will depend on the resolution of JPEG you’ll need, the number of pages you need to convert, as well as how fast you need it done. Unfortunately, there is no way to export a document as a JPEG directly, but the workarounds described in this article are very simple and easy to use. Also, make sure to check our guide on how to convert a Word document to PDF for more sharing options.

Save As JPEG by Taking a Screenshot

If you need to convert only a single page, or a part of one Word document page into a JPEG, it’s easiest and fastest to do it by taking a screenshot. If you do it often, you might want to get screenshot software such as Windows Snipping Tool, LightShot, and Mac Screenshot App for macOS.

To take a screenshot of the whole Word document page, you’ll need to zoom it out so it fits the screen. Use the zoom tool at the bottom right corner of the screen. Either click on the minus symbol or drag the bar toward it.

Once your document is prepared, you can take a screenshot:

1. In the Windows search bar type Snip & Sketch, and open the app. If using a Mac press CMD + Shift + 4 on your keyboard to open the Screenshot app.
2. Select New if using Snip and Sketch.

3. You’ll notice your screen going darker, and Crosshairs appearing. You’ll need to click and drag the crosshairs over the entire Word document page.
4. After making a selection, select the floppy disk icon at the top right corner of the app to save the image with Snip & Sketch. If using Mac, select File then Export.

5. Select where you want to save the image file, give the screenshot a name, and select the JPG file type from the drop-down menu.

6. Finally, press the Save button located at the lower right corner of the pop-up window.

Windows users can also use Paint to save their screenshots as JPEGs. In that case, you won’t be needing Snip & Sketch. Prepare your document page so it fits the screen and follow these steps:

1. Press the Print Screen button on your keyboard while the Word document is open.
2. Open Paint, and press CTRL + V to paste the screenshot as a new document. You can also right-click anywhere on the empty Paint document and select Paste from the menu.

3. The screenshot of your entire screen will show up. You’ll need to use the Select tool and use it to select only the Word document page or a part of it.

4. Once the selection is made, click on the Crop tool in paint. This will leave only the selected part in the Paint document, and the rest will be removed.

5. Finally, click File at the top left corner of the screen to bring down the menu, then choose Save as, and select JPEG picture from the list.

As you can see, you can also choose to save your file as PNG, BMP, or even GIF. It all depends on your needs and what you intend to do with the screenshot image of a Word document.

Paste Text as JPEG in Word on Windows and Mac

Although you can’t export a Word document as JPEG directly from the Microsoft Word app, there is a way to save it as an image file by using the Paste options. Here’s how to do it:

1. Select the text in your Word document that you’ll convert to an image. If it’s a single-page document and you need the whole page, press CTRL + A on your keyboard to select everything.
2. Right-click anywhere in the document and select Copy from the menu.

3. Choose File from Word’s menu, select New, and open a new blank document.

4. Right-click anywhere on the new blank document and find the Paste options. Select the Picture paste option from the menu. Its icon is a clipboard with a picture in front of it.

5. If you are using a Mac, instead of Paste options, find Paste Special and click it. In the As section choose PDF, and click ok. The rest of the steps are the same as for Windows.

6. You’ll notice that the copied text looks the same as the original. But if you click on it, a box will appear around it indicating it’s a picture. You can now manipulate its size, rotation, and text warping.
7. Right-click on the picture you just created and select Save as Picture from the menu.

8. A new dialog box will appear where you can set where you want your new picture to be saved, change the file name, and set the file type to JPEG. Once you are done,select the Save button.

Congrats! You managed to easily save your document as a JPEG never leaving Microsoft Word app.

Save as PDF and Convert to JPEG

In case you need to convert your entire multiple-page Word document into JPEG, using the methods described above would take a long time. Instead, you should save the document as PDF and continue from there.

Word allows you to save the document as a PDF directly:

1. Go to File.

2. Select Save as, and select PDF from the drop-down menu.

3. Finally hit the Save button to finish.

Now you can use that PDF file to convert your documents into images. There are different ways to do it. Adobe Acrobat Reader allows you to export PDF files as images but it requires a paid subscription. Instead, you can use any other free converter software to convert a whole PDF file into JPEG images at once.

If you’re a Windows user, you can download a PDF to JPEG app from Microsoft Store. It’ll allow you to work on a whole document, page by page.

Simply select the PDF file you’ll convert to JPEG, then select the destination folder where you want the JPEG image to be saved, and finally press Convert.

This is an easy app to use to quickly generate JPEG images out of your PDF files.

Save as a JPEG by Using Powerpoint

If you’re familiar with the Microsoft Office suite, you can use PowerPoint to convert your Word document into JPEG. Here’s how:

1. Open your Word document and PowerPoint app. Open the blank slide in PowerPoint by selecting New Slide on the ribbon, and selecting Blank from the menu.

2. In Word, select the page or part of the text you want to convert, and copy it by pressing CTRL + C on your keyboard.
3. Paste the copied text into the blank PowerPoint slide by pressing CTRL + V on your keyboard. If your document is large, repeat the process until everything is copied to PowerPoint.
4. Save the PowerPoint Slide as JPEG. Go to File, then Save as, and finally set the destination and the name of the file, and select JPEG from the file type drop-down menu.

If you have multiple pages to save as JPEG you can repeat this process as many times as it’s needed.

Save as a JPEG by Using an Online Converter

If you don’t want to install any additional apps, and you need a quick way to convert your word file into a JPEG, consider using online converters. Wordtojpeg is a free website that’ll do the job for you. The good thing is it’ll automatically make a JPEG out of each page of your document. In fact, you can upload a document as big as 50 MB.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Open the wordtojpeg.com website in any web browser.

2. Go to Upload Files.

3. Select the Word document you’ll convert. Click Open to upload it.

4. Wait a moment for the converter to finish. Once it’s done you’ll see a download button on the thumbnail of your file. Click it. If you have multiple pages, this tool will convert files into separate JPEG files. Click the Download all button in the middle to save them all at once on your device. Select a download location and click the Save button.

5. Go to a location where you saved the file on your device and extract the ZIP folder that was just downloaded. It contains all the JPEG images created from your Word document.

Now that you know how to save a Word document as a JPEG, you can easily convert your current projects into high-resolution images. Prepare your work for printing, presentations, and any other situation that requires a more polished version of what you’ve written. And if you need to convert an image to Word, check out our guide.

The post How to Save a Word Document as a JPEG first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

In this article, we’ll cover the ten best locations for downloading your Microsoft Teams background images for free.

1. Microsoft Teams Custom Background Gallery

The first place to check is Windows’ dedicated Microsoft Teams website. Here, they’ve laid out some ideal Microsoft Teams backgrounds to use. Even better, their selection is laid out by categories. Choose from a stack of themed images to reflect current events, or just find a funny image that looks good behind you.

2. Unsplash

Unsplash is a website that provides free, high-quality stock photography. You can either search their website for free backgrounds or head straight to their curated list. Here, you’ll find pictures of living rooms, nice clutter-free backgrounds, and photos of nice workspaces.

3. Pexels

Pexels is a great source for background images to use in your next video meeting or webinar. Simply load their website and search for whatever Microsoft Teams background image you’d like to use.

4. Pixabay

Pixabay is the final stock photography website on this list. Like Pexels and Unsplash, they have a database of over 2.8 million photos waiting to be used as background images. Search for an image using their search bar and download whatever image meets your needs. Even better — it’s free.

5. FOX Entertainment

FOX Entertainment has released its own FOX Microsoft Teams backgrounds that you can use in your next virtual meeting. Here, they’ve provided a bunch of hilarious backgrounds from shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Lego Masters. To download backgrounds, right-click the image and select Save image as…

6. Marvel

Marvel has also released their selection of background images based on their popular TV shows and movies. These backgrounds can be used in any video call software, whether it’s Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, or Sharepoint. Simply right-click an image and select Save image as… to download it.

7. Disney

Another popular choice — especially if you’ve got kids — is Disney. The company has curated a list of beautiful backgrounds from famous Disney and Pixar movies that will bring a smile to your face. From Toy Story to Star Wars, you’ll find something for everyone on this list.

8. Wallpaper Hub

Wallpaper Hub has a huge selection of images to choose from. These range from beautiful landscapes to screenshots from famous movies. Have a browse through their images and see if there are any that you’d like to use in your next Microsoft Teams virtual meeting.

9. Room for Zoom

Room for Zoom is a website dedicated to providing video conferencing backgrounds. These images are chosen chiefly for their humor — they line up perfectly to look like it is your background. On their website, you’ll find hundreds of photos, from top-tier memes to classic movie scenes.

10. BBC Empty Sets Collection

Our final choice is the BBC’s Empty Sets collection. They’ve provided a collection of photos of empty sets used in their TV shows over the last six decades. So take your next meeting from the Tardis or your favorite Fawlty Towers location.

Don’t Want An Image? Don’t Worry

You can use these images in your Microsoft Teams meetings to reduce distractions or just have a bit of fun. But, if you don’t want to use a background image (or need something more professional), why not use some of Teams’ built-in background effects?

Simply select Background filters and choose an option from the list. You can blur the background, add one of the provided images, or even add your company’s logo if you’re a subscriber.

The post Where to Download Cool Microsoft Teams Background Images for Free first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Syncing means your changes are saved online and updated across all your OneNote-capable devices. This way, you can always have the latest version of your notes wherever you go. You can access your notes from any device with the OneNote app installed (or from your web browser).

To sync a notebook in OneNote for Windows, you can choose between manual and automatic syncing. Manual syncing lets you control when and how often you sync your notebooks. Automatic syncing lets OneNote sync your notebooks in the background whenever you make changes or close them.

How to Sync a OneNote Notebook Manually

Your OneNote notebooks should sync automatically with Microsoft’s servers. However, if you want to ensure that the latest notes you’ve made are accessible to all your devices, you can manually sync your notebooks at any point.

To sync OneNote manually, follow these steps.

1. First, open OneNote on your Windows PC and open a notebook.
2. Press the Notebooks drop-down arrow next to your current notebook in the top-left corner.
3. In the list of notebooks, right-click the name of the notebook that you want to sync manually.
4. Select Sync This Notebook to manually sync it.

Repeat these steps for each of your notebooks. As long as you have an active internet connection, your notebook (or notebooks) will be syncing across manually.

How to Sync a OneNote Notebook Automatically

OneNote is a cloud-based service by default, so you shouldn’t need to worry about your notes syncing. However, if they aren’t, or you’ve previously disabled the feature, you’ll need to restore OneNote’s ability to sync automatically.

Automatic syncing lets OneNote sync your notebooks in the background whenever you make changes or when you close them. This way, you don’t have to worry about syncing manually.

To enable automatic OneNote syncing, follow these steps.

1. Open OneNote on your Windows PC.
2. Press File > Options.

3. In the Sync tab in the OneNote Options window, check the box next to Sync notebooks automatically to ensure automatic syncing is enabled.

4. In the Save & Backup tab, check the box next to Automatically back up my notebook at the following time interval, then choose a time interval from the drop-down menu between one minute and six weeks.

5. Press OK to save your choice.

With these settings active, your OneNote notebooks should begin syncing automatically. This will continue whenever you make a change.

How to Check Your Notebook Synchronization Status in Microsoft OneNote

If you have any issues syncing your notebooks, and you’re sure it isn’t a problem with your internet connection, you may want to check the cause. You can do this by checking the sync status for your OneNote notebooks.

1. To do this, open OneNote on your PC and press File > View Sync Status.

2. In the Shared Notebook Synchronization window, look for any notebooks with a warning icon appearing over the notebook icon. These indicate an issue with that notebook or a particular section of it.

3. To resolve the issue manually, press the Sync Now button next to the notebook with the sync issues.
4. Alternatively, press the Sync All button to sync all of them instead.

5. Press Close when finished.

If your OneNote notebooks aren’t syncing, you’ll need to troubleshoot the cause next. Remember to double-check your connection status and ensure that Windows Firewall isn’t blocking OneNote before proceeding.

Managing Your Notes in Microsoft OneNote

Syncing your notebooks in OneNote is a great way of keeping your notes updated and accessible—no matter the device you’re using.

OneNote syncing is one of the most basic features on offer, but there are some other, more interesting OneNote features that you can try. For example, if you want to supercharge your OneNote experience, you could try using a notebook template to get started quickly.

The post How to Sync a Notebook in OneNote for Windows first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

We will show you how to add hyperlinks to your worksheet and remove links in Google Sheets that you no longer want.

Link to a Cell or Cell Range

If you have a large Google spreadsheet full of data and want to visit a single cell or cell range frequently, you can easily create a link to it.

1. Select the cell where you want to place the hyperlink. If the cell contains text, that text will be linked. You can also add the text you want when you create the link.
2. Do one of the following to insert the link:
3. Right-click and pick Insert Link.
4. Select the Insert Link button in the toolbar.
5. Choose Insert > Link from the menu.

6. When the Insert Link box appears, you’ll see the cell contents to be linked in the Text box at the top. If the cell is blank, you can enter text in that box to connect to the link.

7. Navigate to the bottom of the pop-up box and pick Sheets and named ranges.

8. Go to the bottom of the subsequent screen and pick Select a range of cells to link.

9. Either enter the cell reference or cell range starting with the sheet name in the following dialog box or use your cursor to select the cell or range to automatically populate the box.
10. Confirm the cell or range and select OK.

You’ll then see the linked text within the cell. Select the cell and use the link in the preview to head to the cell or cell range.

Link to a Named Cell Range

If you use named ranges in your sheet, this gives you another linking option.

1. Follow Steps 1 through 3 above to select the cell, open the Insert Link box, and optionally adjust or add the link text.
2. Go to the bottom of the pop-up box and pick Sheets and named ranges.
3. If necessary, scroll down the next screen in the box to the Named Ranges section and pick the range.

4. When the link to the named range appears in the cell, use Enter or Return to save it.

If you don’t see the named range in the list, it’s likely that it wasn’t named already. To do so, select the range of cells, right-click, and pick View more cell actions > Define named range.

When the Named Ranges sidebar appears on the right, enter a name for the range and select Done.

You can then follow the previous steps to link to that named range.

Link to Another Sheet

If you want to link to another spreadsheet in your Google Sheets workbook, this is a handy way to jump right to it when needed.

1. Follow Steps 1 through 3 from earlier.
2. Go to the bottom of the pop-up box and pick Sheets and named ranges.
3. Head to the Sheets section and pick the sheet name.

4. When the link to the sheet appears in the cell, use Enter or Return to save it.

Link to a Web Page

When you want to link to a website or a particular web page, you have few different ways to do so in Google Sheets.

Use the Paste Action

Probably the simplest way to insert a web link in your sheet is by copying and pasting the URL.

1. Go to the address bar in your web browser and copy the link. You can do this by selecting the URL, right-clicking, and picking Copy.

2. Return to Google Sheets and select the cell where you want the link, right-click, and pick Paste.

3. You’ll then see the hyperlink in the cell. If you want to edit the name rather than display the URL, select the cell to display the link preview and pick the Edit link button (pencil icon).

4. Enter the name in the Text box and select Apply.

Use the Insert Link Feature

Another way to link to a site or page is using the Insert Link feature described earlier.

1. Select the cell where you want the link and do one of the following:
2. Right-click and pick Insert Link.
3. Select the Insert Link button in the toolbar.
4. Choose Insert > Link from the menu.
5. Search for, type, or paste the link into the Search or paste a link box.
6. Optionally add or edit the name in the Text box and select Apply.

Use the HYPERLINK Function

If you like using functions and formulas in Google Sheets, you can also use the HYPERLINK function to insert your link.

The syntax for the formula is “HYPERLINK(url, label)”, where only the URL is required. You can use the label argument for the text to link to the URL. Be sure to include both arguments within quotation marks.

To insert a link to Online Tech Tips, you would use this formula:

=HYPERLINK(“https://www.online-tech-tips.com”)

To insert a link to Online Tech Tips that has the label OTT, you’d use this formula instead:

=HYPERLINK(“https://www.online-tech-tips.com”,”OTT”)

Remove Hyperlinks in Google Sheets

If you decide later to remove hyperlinks you’ve added or import data or a sheet from elsewhere and don’t want the included links, you can remove them.

Remove a Single Link in a Sheet

Maybe you have a particular hyperlink you want to remove. You can do this in a snap. Do one of the following to remove an individual link:

Select the cell containing the link and pick the Remove link button (broken link icon) in the preview.

Right-click the cell with the link and move to View more cell actions > Remove link.

The hyperlink is removed, but the text for the link remains in the cell.

Remove All Links in a Sheet

Perhaps you have many links in your sheet. Rather than remove them one at a time, you can take care of them all in one fell swoop.

1. Select the entire sheet using the Select All button (square in the top-left corner). You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + A on Windows or Command + A on Mac.

2. Right-click anywhere in the sheet, move to View more cell actions, and pick Remove link.

3. You should then see all hyperlinks in your sheet vanish, but any text you used for the links remain.

When you want a fast way to jump to another cell, sheet, or web page, you can add hyperlinks in Google Sheets in various ways.

For other helpful productivity tips, look at how to use find and replace in Google Sheets.

The post How to Add or Remove Hyperlinks in Google Sheets first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

We’ll show you how to create a calendar group in Outlook, view the group, and add or remove calendars from it. This can save time when trying to coordinate between multiple calendars. It lets you plan your schedule without conflicting with other calendar events, and you can see everyone’s schedule at a glance.

Note: Calendar groups currently work with Microsoft Exchange Server accounts using Outlook 2010 or later or Outlook for Microsoft 365.

Create a Calendar Group in Outlook

Open Outlook and head to the Calendar tab using the Calendar icon. Then follow along to set up your calendar group.

Select the Home tab and go to the Manage Calendars group. Pick Calendar Groups > Create New Calendar Group. If you don’t have the option in your version of Outlook, right-click My Calendars in the navigation pane on the left and choose New Calendar Group.

You’ll see the group in the sidebar titled “New Group”. Select that text, type the name you want to use for the group, and press Enter.

Add Calendars to the Group

Next, you’ll add the calendars you want to view in the group from your address book, room list, the internet, or shared calendars.

You can move a calendar to the group by selecting and dragging it to the group in the navigation pane. If you don’t see the calendar or don’t necessarily want to move it, you can add it using the option below instead.

Right-click the new group and choose Add Calendar. Then, pick an option from the pop-out menu.

• From Address Book: Select the address book, contact list, or use the Search box to find the contacts you want. Pick the contacts, select Calendar at the bottom to add them to the list, and choose OK.
• From Room List: Select the address book or use the Search box to find the rooms you want. Pick the rooms, select Rooms at the bottom to add them to the list, and choose OK.
• From Internet: Enter the location of the internet calendar and select OK.
• Open Shared Calendar: Enter the name of the shared calendar and pick OK or select Name to browse for and choose the shared calendar.

With the first two options, you can add more than one calendar at a time. For additional internet or shared calendars, follow the same steps for those you want to add to the group.

To edit a calendar’s appearance after you add it to the group, right-click it. You can then rename the calendar or change its color.

View a Calendar Group in Outlook

Once you have your group, you can see the entire group at once in the calendar view. You can also hide calendars from it to concentrate on the others.

Mark the check box next to the calendar group name in the sidebar to view the entire group.

Expand the group in the sidebar and check those calendars you want to view or uncheck the calendars you want to hide.

Remove Calendars From a Group

If you no longer want to view a calendar in the group, you can remove it easily.

Right-click the calendar name in the calendar group and select Delete Calendar.

This does not delete the calendar completely; it simply removes it from the group.

Delete a Calendar Group

If you no longer want the entire calendar group, you can remove it as well.

First, remove the calendars from the group as described above. Then, right-click the group name and pick Delete Group.

Confirm that you want to delete the group by selecting Yes in the dialog box. This moves the contents of the calendar group to the Deleted Items folder.

Calendar Groups Make Planning a Breeze

Calendar groups are handy for seeing your family members’ calendars for planning outings or your coworkers’ calendars for scheduling meetings. You can also see internet calendars like those for your favorite sports team or TV shows to see how their schedule fits into yours.

For more, look at how to create a group calendar in Microsoft 365 to use a shared calendar with your circle.

The post How to Create a Calendar Group in Microsoft Outlook first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

By adding an appendix, you can offer that extra information for those who want to dig into it without distracting from your presentation’s main objective. Let’s walk through how to use and add an appendix in PowerPoint.

What Is a Presentation Appendix?

Similar to an appendix you’d see in a book, essay, or report, a presentation appendix contains supplemental information. You may not want to include raw data, illustrations, graphs, or lists of tools, books, transcripts, or websites within the presentation itself. Instead, you can place extra details like these in the appendix for your audience to view if they like.

Here are the basics for using an appendix in PowerPoint:

• You should place the appendix on a slide at the end of your presentation, after the References slide if you use one.
• If you use more than one appendix, place each on its own slide. Additionally, you should label each appendix with a letter or number such as Appendix A, Appendix B, or Appendix 1, Appendix 2, and so on.
• You should organize the details in the appendix in the order they appear in the presentation. For instance, supplemental details for content on the first slide should appear first in the appendix.
• You can refer to the appendix, and even link to its slide, within the content of your presentation. This lets your audience know they can obtain more information.
• If you don’t want to display the appendix during the presentation, you can simply hide the slide. With this option, you might consider sharing a PDF of the slideshow with your audience that includes the appendix.

How to Create an Appendix in PowerPoint

With all of the above in mind, let’s take a look at how to create an appendix in PowerPoint.

Add the Appendix Slide

As mentioned, the appendix should be on its own slide at the end of the slideshow. While you can always rearrange your slides later, you can simply place the slide where it needs to be from the start.

Open your PowerPoint slideshow and go to the last slide. You can do this easily using the Normal view with the thumbnails on the left side. Go to View and choose Normal.

Go to the Home or Insert tab and select the arrow attached to the New Slide button in the Slides section of the ribbon. Choose the Title and Content layout in the drop-down menu.

You can change the layout later if needed, but this gets you off to a good start with the appendix slide.

Enter the Slide and Appendix Titles

Once you have your new slide, select the Title text box and enter “Appendix” (or “Appendix A” or “Appendix 1” if you plan to use more than one).

This not only titles the slide appropriately but labels the slide with “Appendix” as well. This is important should you decide to link text in your content to the appendix (explained below).

Next, you’ll add the title of the actual appendix. This can be the topic of what the contents include or something similar that’s descriptive enough to understand at a glance.

You can add a separate text box for this title rather than taking up space in the content box. Head to the Insert tab and select Text Box or Text > Text Box if your ribbon is condensed as shown below.

Draw the text box and then enter the title text.

Insert the Appendix Content

Below the slide and appendix titles, you can insert the content. Add pictures, text, bullet points, charts, tables, or whatever you need to include.

The content box on the Title and Content layout provides you with icons you can select to add various types of media. For instance, you can choose the Insert Table or Insert Chart icon.

If you don’t see an icon for the type of content you want to include, head to the Insert tab for additional options.

Alternatively, you can simply type text into the box and format as a list or include hyperlinks if needed.

Formatting for the Appendix

You can apply text formatting for the style, size, and color as you would any other text in your presentation. Select the text and use the options in the Font section of the Home tab or the floating toolbar (on Windows) to make your adjustments.

You can also format images, charts, and tables like you would any other in the slideshow. Select the item and go to the corresponding tab that displays to make the changes. For example, if you select a table, you’ll see the Table Design tab.

Link to an Appendix in PowerPoint

As mentioned earlier, you can refer to the appendix in your presentation content. This lets your audience know that they can find supplementary information on that topic in the appendix.

To make things even easier, you can link text on a slide directly to the appendix slide. This allows you to quickly jump to the slide in the presentation if you like. If you share the presentation, it also lets your audience move right to the appendix.

1. Go to the slide where you refer to the appendix and select the text you want to link. You can do this by dragging your cursor through the word(s).

2. Either right-click, select Link, and pick Insert Link or go to the Insert tab, select Link, and pick Insert Link.

3. When the Insert Hyperlink box appears, choose Place in This Document on the left and pick the slide titled Appendix on the right. Select OK to insert the link.

You’ll then see your text linked to the appendix slide. You can do the same with additional text in your presentation as well as other text if you use more than one appendix.

Hide the Appendix During a Presentation

If you don’t want to display the appendix slide during your presentation, you can do one of two things.

First, you can simply stop your slideshow after the last slide before the appendix. This works fine if you’re manually controlling the show.

Second, you can hide the appendix slide. This is ideal if you have an automatically playing presentation or convert your slideshow into a video. To do this, right-click the slide in Normal or Slide Sorter view and pick Hide Slide.

Give Your Audience That Little Extra

With an appendix in PowerPoint, you can make sure that your audience has additional information if they would like to explore your topic further without taking away from your presentation’s main goal. Are you going to add an appendix in your next PowerPoint slideshow?

For more, take a look at these tips to improve your presentations.

The post How to Add an Appendix to Your PowerPoint Presentation first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

We’ll show you how to use the Microsoft Word Read Aloud feature on your desktop, the web, and in the mobile app.

Note: As of this writing, Read Aloud is available in Office 2019, Office 2021, and Microsoft 365.

Use Read Aloud in Word on the Desktop

You can use the Read Aloud feature in Word on both Windows and Mac, which works the same way on both platforms.

1. Open your Word document and head to the Review tab.
2. Select Read Aloud in the Speech section of the ribbon.

3. When the small control bar appears, you can manage the playback and adjust a couple of settings.
4. Use the Play/Pause button to stop and resume.
5. Use the Forward (right arrow) and Back (left arrow) buttons to move to the next or previous paragraph.

6. Select the gear icon to adjust these settings in the drop-down menu:
7. Use the Reading Speed slider to adjust the speaking speed. Slide right to increase or left to decrease.
8. Use the Voice Selection drop-down to choose a different voice. The options vary depending on your installed voices on Windows or macOS.

9. If you want to hear a particular portion of the document or start in a spot other than the beginning, select the text or place your cursor at the beginning of the line. Then, start the playback using the Play button.

When you finish using Read Aloud, use the X on the right of the controls to close and exit. You can then continue working on or reading your Word document as usual.

Use Read Aloud in Word on the Web

If you use Microsoft Word on the web, you can use Read Aloud within the Immersive Reader feature.

1. Visit Word on the web, sign in, and open your document.
2. Go to the View tab and select Immersive Reader.

3. You’ll see the document open in a focused mode, making it easier to read. You’ll also notice a green Play button at the bottom.

4. Select the Play button to hear the document read out loud. Select it again to pause the playback.

5. To change the Voice Speed or Voice Selection, use the gear icon to the right.

To exit Read Aloud and Immersive Reader, use the back arrow on the top left and return to the document’s original view.

Use Read Aloud in Word in the Mobile App

The Read Aloud feature is a handy way to listen to a Word document in the Word mobile app when you’re on the go.

1. Open the Word app on Android or iPhone and the document you want to hear.
2. On Android, tap the three dots on the top right and pick Read Aloud. On iPhone, tap Read Aloud at the bottom of the screen.

3. When the Read Aloud controls display, use the Play/Pause, Forward, and Back buttons to control the playback. To hear specific text, select it and then use the Play button to hear it.
4. To change the speed or voice, select the gear icon. Then use the slider to adjust the Reading Speed and the arrow next to Voice Pack to change the voice.
5. Tap the down arrow next to Audio Settings to close these settings when you finish.

To close Read Aloud, select the X on the right side of the control bar.

Whether you want to listen to your own document or one composed by someone else, Read Aloud in Microsoft Word is convenient.

If you’re having trouble hearing your document read to you, look at these fixes for when audio isn’t working on your computer.

The post How to Get Microsoft Word to Read Your Document Aloud first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

From handy templates that get you off to a quick start to creating one from scratch, you can make a schedule in Excel in just minutes.

Daily Schedule

Do you want to plan your day for an excursion, travel itinerary, or hours of meetings? This daily schedule template gives you a spot for each activity in 15-minute increments. As a bonus, you have areas for reminders, personalized tasks, a food log, contacts, expenses, and notes.

This template is handy if you want to share your Excel schedule with your assistant, babysitter, or spouse.

Simple Weekly Schedule

For a schedule that gives you spots for morning, afternoon, and evening tasks, activities, or events, this simple weekly schedule has you covered.

You can plan a week at a time for anything from shifts or events to classes or homework. If you prefer to use times on your schedule, use the Week with Hours tab instead of the Week tab.

All Purpose Weekly Schedule

When you need something more detailed, this weekly schedule gives you 15- and 30-minute time increments.

The schedule starts at 5 AM and ends at 8 PM with 15-minute increments from 6 AM to 5 PM, making it ideal for work or school.

Conference or Training Schedule

If you’re in charge of a conference or training new employees, this five-day event schedule is perfect.

Use the half-hour time increments for up to five days of events and include breaks and meals. You can add each activity with its location for things like lectures, classes, and group events.

Employee Shift Schedule

When you need to post a work schedule on the bulletin board for your employees, this shift schedule can help. You have a tab for each day of the week, so you can plan up to a seven-day workweek in advance.

Enter each employee’s name on the left with their shift duty under the appropriate time. The template totals the hours for you on the right side for an easy way to make sure everyone gets the correct number of hours.

Team Schedule and Roster

When you coach a team, whether for your child’s sports club or your local softball team, use this schedule and roster template to keep it all organized.

You have tabs for a Team Roster, League Schedule, and League Team List which makes managing multiple teams a breeze.

For the League Schedule, simply enter the date, home and away team names, time, and location. Then, print and hand out the schedule to your team members.

Weekly College Schedule

If you and your roommates or siblings pop your schedule on the fridge for the rest of the house to see, this weekly college class schedule works great.

The template gives you half-hour increments from 7 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Friday. Once you enter your class, group, or activity, use the Priority Key to mark it with high, medium, or low importance.

Family Event Schedule

If you’re planning a family event like a weekend reunion or multi-day trip, you can keep everyone on track with this family event schedule.

You can lay out each day’s activities in half-hour increments. This is perfect for plane travel, restaurant reservations, or show or sporting event tickets.

Weekly Chore Schedule

When you need to assign chores to everyone in the household, this weekly chore schedule template lets everybody see what they’re responsible for at a glance.

You’ll see the chores listed along the left, which you can edit to fit your needs. Then, add the person’s name for the day. Finally, each person can mark the Done box when they finish the chore, so everyone knows what’s been completed and what’s remaining each day of the week.

Make Your Own Schedule in Excel

While each of these templates is flexible enough to use for various events and activities, you should try your hand at making your own personalized schedule.

With this, you can customize the schedule with colors and fonts, add images, and print or share the schedule easily.

Let’s create a schedule for the workweek with 30-minute increments for each day.

1. Open Excel and enter the days of the week in the top row beginning in cell B1. You can use all seven days or just each workday if you prefer.

2. Enter the time intervals in the first column beginning in cell A2. If necessary, format the cells for time by right-clicking and picking Format Cells. Then, choose Time on the left of the Number tab and select the format on the right.

Tip: If you enter the first two times, you can select those cells and then use the fill handle to complete the remaining cells in the column.

3. Adjust the width of the columns to provide more space to type or handwrite your activities. You can select all columns containing the days of the week and then drag one of the columns to the width you want. This changes the width of all those day columns at once.

4. You can then do the same to raise the height of the rows. Select all rows with the times and drag the arrow up or down to expand them all simultaneously.

5. If you want to add some pizzazz to your schedule, you can change the font styles, colors, and format, adjust the alignment, add borders, or even include an inspiring or fun photo.

Print Your Schedule

To print your schedule when you finish, select File > Print. You can then adjust the schedule to fit on the page as you like.

For example, use the Portrait Orientation drop-down box to change to Landscape, the No Scaling box to select Fit All Rows on One Page, and the Normal box to set Custom Margins.

Adjust any further settings per your preference, select Print, and follow the prompts per your printer and setup.

Stay on Schedule With Excel

While digital calendars, schedules, and planners can be cool, they aren’t always convenient. If you want to make a schedule in Excel that you can print or email to others, these templates and instructions should help.

For more, look at our tutorial for creating a simple calendar in Microsoft Word.

The post How to Make a Schedule in Microsoft Excel first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Here, we’ll show you how to print on an envelope in Word using a template as well as from scratch on both Windows and Mac.

Note: As of this writing, you cannot print an envelope from the Microsoft Word mobile app.

Print on an Envelope in Word on Windows

Before you start, you may want to get the envelope size you’ll be using because you’ll need this for the settings you’ll adjust. You can also place your envelope into the printer so it’s ready to go when you are.

Use an Envelope Template

If you want to add a bit of flare to your envelope, you can use one of Word’s templates.

1. Open Word and make sure you’re in the Home section.
2. Select More Templates on the right.

3. Type “Envelopes” into the search box and press Enter.
4. You’ll then see a handful of envelope templates you can use. If you see one you like, select it and use Create to open it for editing.

Depending on the template you pick, you may have options to add a logo or image. For the recipient and return names and addresses, simply type the text in the placeholders.

Create an Envelope From Scratch

If you don’t see a template you like, creating an envelope from scratch is just as easy.

1. With a blank document open in Word, select the Mailings tab and pick Envelopes on the left.
2. In the window that appears, enter the delivery address details at the top and return address beneath.
3. Select Options to choose the envelope size and printing options.

4. In that window, use the Envelope Options tab to pick the size of your envelope. If you don’t see the size you need, scroll to the bottom of that list, pick Custom Size, and enter the width and height of the envelope.
5. Next, you can adjust where the delivery and return addresses display on the envelope. Use the From left and From top boxes for each address by entering the size or using the arrows to move up or down. As you do, you’ll see the changes in the Preview at the bottom.
6. Additionally, you can use the Font button to pick a specific font style or size for each address.

7. Next, select the Printing Options tab to choose the feed method and facing for your envelope. You can also choose the feed tray using the drop-down menu. You may need to check for the correct placement with your printer’s instructions.
8. When you finish, select OK.

9. You’ll return to the Envelopes and Labels window where you started. To print the envelope immediately, select Print. Otherwise, pick Add to Document to create the envelope and follow the steps below to print.

10. If prompted to save the return address, select Yes or No per your preference.

Print the Envelope on Windows

When it’s time to print either your custom envelope or edited template, place your envelope(s) in your printer per the manufacturer’s instructions and the settings you adjusted on the Printing Options tab above.

1. Select the File tab and pick Print.
2. You can then select the printer at the top and make any other adjustments as needed to the print settings. You’ll see a preview of your envelope(s) on the right.
3. Choose Print.

If you run into problems, check out our Windows 10 printer troubleshooting guide.

Print on an Envelope in Word on Mac

Printing on an envelope in Word on Mac is similar to Windows, but there are a few slight differences. So, please follow along below if you’re working in Word on macOS.

Use an Envelope Template

You can find the same templates in Word on Mac as on Windows to get a jumpstart on your envelope.

1. Open Word and select File > New From Template in the menu bar.
2. Type “Envelope” into the search box. You’ll see a few different envelope styles.
3. If you find one you’d like to use, select it and use Create to open it.

You can then replace the sample names and addresses for your recipient and return in each text box.

Create an Envelope From Scratch

If you don’t find a template you want to use, you can easily create an envelope from scratch.

1. With a blank document open in Word, select the Mailings tab and pick Envelopes on the left.
2. In the window that appears, enter the delivery address details at the top and return address beneath.

3. Use the Font button to select a specific font style or size for each address if you like.
4. Select the Position button to adjust the placement of the delivery and return addresses. Use the From left and From top boxes for each address by entering the size or using the arrows to move up or down. You’ll see your changes in the Preview on the right.

5. In the Printing Options section, select Page Setup to select your printer, paper size, and optional scale setting.

6. Next, you can choose Custom in the same section to pick the size of your envelope, feed method, and facing for your envelope. If you don’t see the size you need, go to the bottom of the list, pick Custom Size, and enter the width and height of the envelope. Again, you may need to review your printer’s instructions for the correct placement settings.

7. Select OK in each of those pop-up windows to close them, save the changes, and return to the Envelope window where you started.
8. To print the envelope immediately, press Print. Otherwise, you can mark the check box for Insert this envelope into the active document, select OK, and follow the steps below to print.

Print the Envelope on Mac

When you’re ready to print your custom envelope or edited template, put your envelope(s) in your printer per the manufacturer’s instructions and the settings you adjusted in the Printing Options described above.

1. Select File > Print from the menu bar.
2. You can select a different printer at the top and make any other changes you need to the print settings. You’ll also see a preview of your envelope(s).
3. Choose Print.

Save Your Envelope

In Word on both Windows and Mac, you can save the envelope document you created using File > Save or Save As. Choose a location, give your document a name, and select Save. Then simply reopen to edit and reuse your envelope Word document.

Now that you know how to print on an envelope in Word, take a look at how to create labels in Word from a Microsoft Excel sheet or how to make a greeting card in Word.

The post How to Print on an Envelope in Microsoft Word first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Office Home & Student has Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Office Home & Business adds Outlook. Office Professional adds Publisher and Access. All are available for Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems, and it’s a one-time purchase.

Office 365, now known as Microsoft 365, is a subscription service that can provide access to any of the desktop and web-based Office applications and other services like OneDrive cloud storage, Teams, SharePoint, Intune, Exchange, and built-in security services.

To add more confusion, there’s also Office Online. That’s the free version of Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and the Office app for Android and iOS devices.

What version of Office do you have?

Other standalone Office products for purchase include Visio for flow-charting and Project for project management.

The Latest Version of Office is Microsoft Office 2021

For the home user, you might not see a difference between Office 2019 and Office 2021. However, at work, it’s wise to get on the most current version to ensure you have the latest features, maximum compatibility, and security, especially when exchanging files with other companies. If you’re using older versions than 2019, you need to update to Office 2021. Do it for the security updates at the very least.

Feature Updates in Microsoft Office 2021

If you use Microsoft Office, you’ve noticed that it’s becoming a collaboration platform. Whether you’re a small business or a Fortune 500 company, you’ve become reliant on integrated communications with apps like Microsoft Teams. This functionality grows in Office 2021. We’ll note the Office applications the feature is in, and if it’s available on Windows desktop, macOS, or both.

Microsoft Office 2021 Visual Refresh

Office Apps: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Visio, Project

Platform: Windows

When you install Office 2021, you’ll notice it looks ‌different. Microsoft’s goal is to simplify the look and feel so you can focus on your work. It’s still familiar enough that you can easily find your favorite tools in the ribbon. The Office Visual Refresh doesn’t have too many surprises.

Co-authoring and Collaborators in Real-time

Office Apps: Excel, Word, PowerPoint

Platform: Windows, macOS

No more emailing spreadsheets back and forth, with copies bloating your inbox. Share the file you’re working on and everyone can work ‌in real-time. Near the top-right of the app, you can see who’s working on it right now, with you. This requires saving the document to OneDrive or SharePoint.

AutoSave Every Change

Office Apps: Excel, Word, PowerPoint

Platform: Windows, macOS

Use your Microsoft account to get the free or paid version of OneDrive. Then, any document you store in OneDrive will automatically save every change as you work on it. Never worry about having to recover a lost file or repairing a corrupt document.

Save Your Eyes with Dark Mode

Office Apps: Word

Platform: Windows, macOS

Along with the visual refresh, Word now has Dark Mode, and it’s not just the ribbon. The page itself goes dark. Many people find ‌Dark Mode reduces eye strain. It may also reduce exposure to blue light and help your sleep.

Read Aloud for Proof-reading

Office Apps: Word

Platform: Windows, macOS

An old writer’s trick is to read their writing out loud to see how it sounds. It works very well to help find missing words and adjust the tone for your readers. Or maybe you’d just like to give your eyes a rest. Word will read back your document in a realistic masculine or feminine voice.

Free Stock Media

Office Apps: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Visio

Platform: Windows, macOS

Keep everyone’s eyes on your great work with the use of Office’s Premium Creative Content library. Insert images, icons, photos, illustrations, and more with just a few keystrokes. No more searching for public domain images on the web for hours.

Go Global with Outlook’s Built-In Translator

Office Apps: Outlook

Platform: Windows

A growing trend is doing global business from home, so having a translator would really help. Outlook can now translate emails in over 70 languages and create a transcript so you can keep the original too.

Stay Accessible

Office Apps: Excel, Word, PowerPoint

Platform: Windows

Thankfully, we’ve become more aware of the challenges some people face and Microsoft makes it easier for us to keep our work accessible through their Accessibility Checker.

How Do I Update to Office 2021?

Convinced that Office 2021 is worth getting? Great, upgrading is simple and easy.

1. Make sure your device meets the requirements of Office 2021:

OS

Windows – Windows 10 or Windows 11
macOS – 3 most recent versions of macOS

CPU

Windows 1.1GHz or better with at least 2 cores
macOS – whatever is supported by the 3 most recent versions of macOS

RAM

Windows – 4 GB
macOS – 4 GB

Drive Space

Windows – 4 GB
macOS – 10 GB

Monitor

Windows – minimum 1280 x 768
macOS – minimum 1280 x 800

2. Buy the edition of Office 2021 that you need, using the links to Microsoft’s official pages.

Office Home & Student 2021 – $149.99

Office Home & Business 2021 – $249.99

Office Professional 2021 – $439.99

3. Download and install Office 2021. The Office 2021 install should remove previous versions of Office if you have them. If the install doesn’t, then uninstall your old Office versions as you would any other program. If you use Outlook, make a backup of the Outlook data files. Security updates for Office 2021 should happen automatically.

What Else Is New in Microsoft Office 2021?

There are too many feature updates to fit in here. Your Windows or Mac version of Office holds a lot of pleasant surprises for you. Take the time to look around and search them out. What’s your favorite new feature? What do you want to see Microsoft include or change in Office? Let us know.

The post What Is the Latest Version of Microsoft Office? first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

In this article, we’ll cover how you can use the MLA format in Microsoft Word.

The MLA Format Requirements

Here are the basic MLA guidelines:

1. Use 1-inch margins on all sides
2. Use a legible font like Times New Roman
3. Use 12 size font
4. Use double-spacing throughout the entire document
5. Use indentation for the beginning of each paragraph
6. Include a header that displays your surname and page numbers on the top right-hand side
7. The first page should include your name, paper information and date
8. The title of your paper should be centered on the first page
9. The end of the paper should include a Works Cited page with MLA citations

How to Set Up the MLA Format in Word

Here’s how you can organize your Word document so that it conforms to the MLA guidelines. We’ll cover each requirement in turn, so start at the top and work your way down.

1. Set the Margins

To set 1-inch margins:

1. Click on the Layout tab (in older versions of Word this will be Page Layout).

2. Select Margins then click Custom Margins.

3. For the Top, Bottom, Right and Left margins, type 1 and press Enter.

4. Select OK.

2. Set the Font and Font Size

To change the font:

1. Select the Home tab.

2. Click the font drop-down menu and select the Times New Roman font (or a similar font like Calibri).
3. Click the font size drop-down menu and select 12.

3. Set Double Line Spacing

To set double-spacing:

1. Select the spacing drop-down menu. This icon looks like blue up and down arrows beside four horizontal lines. Click 2.

4. Set the Indentation

To set paragraph indentation:

1. Right-click the document and select Paragraph.

2. Make sure the Indents and Spacing tab is selected.
3. Click the drop-down menu beneath Special and select First line. Then, click the field beneath By and type 1 cm.

Alternatively, you can press the tab key before starting each new paragraph.

5. Set the Header

To set your header:

1. Click the Insert tab.

2. In the Header & Footer section, select Header and click Blank (the top option).

3. In the header, type your name and press the spacebar once.
4. Click the Home tab.
5. Select Align Text Right in the Paragraph section.

6. Set the Page Number

To set page numbers:

1. Using your cursor, click in the header after your name.
2. Select the Header and Footer tab.

3. Select Page Number, click Current Position and select Plain Number.

7. Include Key Information on the First Page

Now that your formatting is set up, it’s time to include the required information on the first page of your document.

This should be one to four lines with your full name and other key information such as your course name, course number, instructor’s name, and date (written in a day, month, year format).

After the date, click the Enter key, type your document or research paper’s title and center the text by pressing Align Text Center in the Home tab.

8. Format the Works Cited Page

If you include citations in your document, these also need to conform to the MLA handbook. The list should be:

1. Titled with “Works Cited” at the top of page
2. In alphabetical order
3. Left-justified
4. Double-spaced
5. Indented with a hanging indent

To include a hanging indent, select your citation list, right-click your document and select Paragraph. In the Indentation section, select the drop-down box underneath Special, select Hanging, and click OK.

Time to Get Writing

Now that you’ve formatted your MLA paper correctly, it’s finally time to get writing. With this formatting guide, you’ll have no trouble passing the MLA requirements. Just make sure to double-check your document before you submit it!

The post How to Set Up and Use MLA Format in Microsoft Word first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

The list of shortcuts presented here is only a small portion of all the shortcuts available. In this article, we try to keep only to the most frequently used keyboard PowerPoint shortcuts. Other shortcuts might be more task-specific and useful in only a handful of situations, so we won’t bother with them.

Keep in mind that these shortcuts will work in all PowerPoint versions. You don’t have to install the latest version in order to use them.

That said, make sure to also check out our articles on the best Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts and the best Microsoft Excel keyboard shortcuts to become a Microsoft Office power user.

1. General PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts

These PowerPoint shortcut keys will help you navigate the ribbon, open and close presentations, or switch between multiple presentations. You might already be familiar with some of them as they are the same as the shortcuts used in other apps or web browsers.

2. Selecting and Navigating through PowerPoint Presentation

This group of shortcut keys will help you quickly move through the whole presentation and select the text, boxes, slides, or only certain objects within the slides. Instead of using your mouse, opt for keyboard shortcuts, it will save you a lot of time.

3. Formatting and Editing the PowerPoint Presentation

After you are done creating a presentation, you can concentrate on making it look good. Format your PowerPoint presentation or edit it quickly with these keyboard shortcuts. Also, remember you can always get started with a professional PowerPoint template to save even more time.

4. Delivering Your Presentation

Once you’re satisfied with how your PowerPoint presentation turned out, it’s time to deliver it to your coworkers, boss, or teacher. These keyboard shortcuts will help you look professional.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Keep in mind the PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts above are primarily for Windows machines. However, most of them are similar on the Mac as well. While on Windows you need to press Ctrl for most shortcuts, on Mac you will press the Cmd (Command) key instead.

PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts are essential for improving the efficiency of your workflow and you should learn at least the basic ones. However, you will, in time, remember the ones you use the most.

If you find it helpful, you can even print out this list of Powerpoint keyboard shortcuts, and keep it handy next to your workstation. That way you can cast a glance and use the appropriate shortcut at any time.

The post The Best Microsoft PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Luckily, finding the range of a set of data is easy when using Excel functions. Here’s how to do it.

How to Find and Calculate Range in 3 Steps

The easiest way to find the range in Microsoft Excel is by using the MIN and MAX functions. The MIN function calculates the highest value in a set of data, while the MIN function calculates the smallest value.

First, ensure that your data is neatly organized in your worksheet for ease of analysis. Then, you can use the MIN and MAX functions as follows:

1. Select a cell outside of your dataset (in our example D1). In this cell, type =MAX and select =MAX from the drop-down menu.

2. Select your range of cells by clicking and dragging. Alternatively, you can type the cell range into the cell manually (for example, =MAX(B2:B15). Press Enter to confirm.

3. Select another cell (in our example D2) and type =MIN. Repeat step 2 for this cell.

4. Now you need to find the difference between these values. To do this, select a cell (in our example, D3) and use the subtract function by typing =(the cell that contains MAX value)-(the cell that contains MIN value). For example, =D1-D2.

It’s possible to calculate the range of values in one shortcut step by combining these functions in one cell. To do so, we’ll use our example where the dataset is contained in cells B2 to B15.

Using these cells, the range function would look like the following:

=MAX(B2:B15)-MIN(B2-B15)

All you have to do is change the cell values to match your data.

How to Find a Conditional Range in Excel

If your set of data has a few outliers, it’s possible to calculate a conditional range that ignores the outliers. For instance, take a look at this example screenshot:

Almost all of the values are between 40 and 80, yet there are two around 1,000 and the two lowest values are close to 1. If you wanted to calculate the range but ignore those values, you would need to ignore values under 5 and over 900. This is where the MAXIFS and MINIFS functions come in.

MAXIFS adds a condition that ignores values over a certain number, while MINIFS ignores values lower than a certain number (with each condition separated by a comma).

So, for our example, the MAX function would become:

=MAXIFS(B2:B15,B2:B15,”<900”)

And the MIN function would become:

=MINIFS(B2:B15,B2:B15,”>5”)

In this case, the total Excel formula for calculating the conditional range will be:

=MAXIFS(B2:B15,B2:B15,”<900″)-MINIFS(B2:B15,B2:B15,”>5″)

Note: The MAXIFS and MINIFS functions are only available in Excel 2019 and Microsoft Office 365, so if you’re using an older version, you will need to include the IF function separately. For example: =MAX(B2:B15)-MIN(IF(B2:B15>5,B2:B15)

Data Analysis Has Never Been Easier

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool for analyzing data. With this tutorial, you can easily calculate the range of any dataset, even if you need to remove outliers.

The post How to Find and Calculate Range in Excel first appeared on Online Tech Tips.